West Herts young guns battle through the rain

The U14 girls won 4-3 away at Wycombe, while the U16 boys suffered their first defeat of the season as they went down 3-2 to Slough.

The West Herts boys started off a little disjointed and Slough took advantage, securing an early lead.

But West Herts began to grow into the game, and the equaliser arrived through Tom Watts.

Slough scored again late in the first half following a missed clearance, but the West Herts boys were well in the game going in at the break.

An early goal from Raphael Allen levelled matters, but mistakes in the final third and at the back again proved costly as Slough regained the lead with 15 minutes remaining.

Pushing for the equaliser, West Herts won a penalty flick after a shot was saved on the line by a defender’s foot, but they were unable to convert the chance as the wet conditions made gripping the stick difficult.

The girls, meanwhile, took a quick lead in their clash with Wycombe, with Gabriella Holland scoring first.

Within 10 minutes the girls were deservedly 2-0 up following strong forward play and, although Wycombe pulled a goal back, the two-goal cushion was restored shortly before half-time through Holland.

The second half was a more even affair and Wycombe moved the ball around well, stretching West Herts at the back and levelling the game at 3-3.

West Herts won several penalty corners, but were unable to convert until the last play of the game when Nicole Poole, with her back to the goal, flicked the ball past the keeper for the winner.